Pricing bushog jobs?

[Spark_man]

I guess I should clarify the type of job -

These are typically 3 - 5 acre lots in high dollar subdivisions or guys with pastures for 1 or 2 horses ( < 5 acres ). I would suspect those rates can't possible apply to larger fields. I think one of the problems around here is that most of the farmers only have big equipment and don't want to be bothered with small places and a lot of the lawn care guys don't want to mess with field work. It's a niche market for sure.

 

[Ramairfreak98ss]

Going rates here are generally based on tractor size, figuring mower size is relative to tractor power. Prices seem to be around $1.25 to $1.50 per tractor HP. (i.e. 40 HP= $50 to $60 pr. hr.) That'll be with a 6' mower.

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so i should only charge $40hr for my 27hp work? lol. I easily get between $100-200hr depending on the work in dirty jersey

 

[HillbillyFarmer]

Here in WV (where 200k houses in other parts of the country go for 60k), you will never be able to mow 8 acres per hour unless you happen to luck out upon one of the few flat spots in the state. On my farm, you might do 8 acres per day. I can usually get my 40 acres of pasture mowed in 3 days to a week depending upon how much other stuff needs doin.

The last time I heard of anyone charging or paying for brush hog work, was two years ago. The guy used a 50hp 4wd Zetor with a 6' hog and charged $35/hr. I doubt you'd get much more than that around here.

 

[Soundguy]

Man... 35$/hour..!! I guess you'd have to work a 9-5 job just to pay for your tractor mowing 'hobby' for that little money..

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

so i should only charge $40hr for my 27hp work? lol. I easily get between $100-200hr depending on the work in dirty jersey

Bring that 27 HP tractor to the middle of KEntucky and you'd be LUCKY to get $40 an hour.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Man... 35$/hour..!! I guess you'd have to work a 9-5 job just to pay for your tractor mowing 'hobby' for that little money..

Soundguy

Keep in mind that WV and Kentucky are both much less expensive areas to live in than say, Florida, or east coast major cities, or apparently, most everywhere. That's one of the attractions to this area. A house that would typically sell far $250,000 in most east coast cities will sell for $110,000 to $120,000 here. Unless you're right in a major urban area, land prices are still "1980's" compared to other parts of the country. (They're going up though, still offers great opportunity for big profits in the real estate market)

I've priced out 2 mowing jobs in the past month. In BOTH cases, I can have it done by a contractor cheaper than I can buy equipment and do it myself. Makes you wonder how they make anything, but they do OK. The market for mowing just won't support higher rates here.

 

[Soundguy]

So.. do tractor dealers also discount their equipment by 50% to make up for the fact that all of the jobs pay 50% less??

Soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

So.. do tractor dealers also discount their equipment by 50% to make up for the fact that all of the jobs pay 50% less??

Soundguy

Why they discount everything 100% here, haven't you heard?

That's why 75% or more people doing that sort of work here use their OLDER tractors, or do business on such a large scale they can afford new(er) equipment. No one here seems to give a hoot just how proud a person is of their new tractor. Still won't pay big bucks for "low tech" stuff like bush hogging.

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. a high volume of work does make up for lower $perHR.. assuming machine maint costs and some profit is being turned to perpetuate the business.

I've had my neighbors walk over and ask me to mow thier pastures ( for good money sometimes ).. and unfortunately.. I've had to turn them away sometimes due to shear amount of work I had to do... The good money jobs never seem to come up when I have idle time.. ( did I just say i had idle time sometimes?? )

Soundguy